Who do you guys think the WINNER:________ is between the two critically acclaimed, fantasy open world RPGs is? For me, who played 26 skyrim hours and currently 6 hours of dark souls(just started) here's my opinion:

They're different kinds of open world rpgs. If you're a hardcore gamer and like a challenge that's not unfair but doesn't hold your hand it's 1000000000000 times the game skyrim is. If you just want a big open world thats more relaxing then stick with skyrim. But Dark souls requires patience and willingness to learn from mistakes. Its 1000000000000 times more polished than skyrim and WAY more detailed and varied. Not nearly as big, but it'll take you a good 50 hours to beat from what i read, and thats if you're good doing just main story and a little side stuff.Whereas Skyrim's combat is clunky and never really feels like you're actually hitting anenemie or like you're getting hit yourself really, In Dark Souls not only do you feel the impact of getting hit, and quite much so, but you really feel good when you get the opening to hack at the enemy whose been on your ass for so long, and mmmHHMMMPH when you get that one move where you knock their shield back then do the stab through the body then scrape the sword out of the body with your foot, OOOOO! It's just much more rewarding and challenging and polished and addicting and, best of all, it ALWAYS keeps you on the edge of your seat.

WINNER: Dark Souls
It just crushes Skyrim game-wise.Skyrim has cooler lore, is more accesible to non-experienced gamers,etc. . But if you're a dedicated gamer like me you'll find Dark Souls is a much more well oiled machine, more detail in enviroments, enemies and weapons, and way more polished and varied. And IF and only if you are a hardcore gamer will you recognize and instantly admire it's amazing originality, how masterfully crafted the bosses and levels are, and most of all, the challlenge.

I agree though. Dark Souls wins in my book for overall better game FOR ME. Skyrim is probably best for all gamers at large, but I'd love to see them take a stab (or sword to the face from a black knight) at Dark Souls.

I guess you guys don't understand. It's simply a thread to compare the two. I'm not saying you should only get DS, I'd just rather have DS if I had to choose. I wanna see how others think the games stack up next to each other

Apples and orange bro. This is kind of like asking "Which is better, Super Mario Brothers or Dragon Quest?" totally different games. Both enjoyable, which you prefer depends on many factors. Personally I dig the combat in Demons Souls but I wouldn't say it's better than the whack whack whack of Skyrim, I mean, you learn the enemy patterns or what weapons you need to beat mobs in the DS series and rinse and repeat. I always like me some open world wandering though. Whether you like no Multiplayer more than Demon Souls griefing more is up to you.

So only a true 'hardcore' gamer will instantly recognise and admire DS, thereby negating the opinions of anyone who falls outside this perceived term? Almost choked on my laughter there buddy. I think you'll find that a 'hardcore' gamer would care little for what other people thought they should or shouldn't feel/believe/admire etc. Perhaps someone who 'believes' they are hardcore might feel a little more inclined to specifiy what defines this idea, perhaps even in a slightly patronising and prejudicial way...? Maybe with a 'look at me I'm really hardcore' sort of expression on their face? Genuinely apologies if that's not the impression you were going for.

Dark Souls is not original, though it is very good. Skyrim is not a game that is easy to compare to anything else really, and certainly not DS due to the completely different ways in which the two games deal with gameplay, combat, progression, story, narrative, lore, questing and exploration. To say that any AAA game 'crushes' another AAA game is slightly silly simply due to the nature of the beasts you're riding. I much prefer Skyrim for too many reasons to go into right now and find DS a little overrated (guess I'm not hardcore enough to recognise its brilliance), but even then I wouldn't claim that Skyrim crushes DS. Different games, different merits, different polarising opinions apparently too. Vive le difference...

So only a true 'hardcore' gamer will instantly recognise and admire DS, thereby negating the opinions of anyone who falls outside this perceived term? Almost choked on my laughter there buddy. I think you'll find that a 'hardcore' gamer would care little for what other people thought they should or shouldn't feel/believe/admire etc. Perhaps someone who 'believes' they are hardcore might feel a little more inclined to specifiy what defines this idea, perhaps even in a slightly patronising and prejudicial way...? Maybe with a 'look at me I'm really hardcore' sort of expression on their face? Genuinely apologies if that's not the impression you were going for.

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I mean that only dedicated/ long-time gamers can appreciate the little touches they use in the way they challenge you and make patience mandatory. I think only storied and dedicated gamers, who've played games all their life or for many many years can truly appreciate. It's not just another run and gun hack and slash,it goes for an almost punch out -esque approach when you take on an enemy. You take em one on one and have to really think out and stay on your toes for when you see an opening. There's a lot of blocking and dodging and unlike many other games these days, I can't just lay back and smash buttons, it really makes you stay on the edge of your seat,and that's a feeling games don't give me too much anymore. I guess hardcore's not the word, that's a very loose term. But I really mean that only certain gamers can appreciate how they've made a game with such an old school way of handling challenge through the gameplay with such a modern style of doing the world and level design. Also, I believe I said, or at least I meant to say that Dark Souls crushes in terms of game-wise( not world, lore, choice wise, which is really all Skyrim is about), just the structure of areas, the different paths to take, how terrifying the world can be to explore,in terms of boss fights and most importantly gameplay IMO. And those aren't necessarily Skyrim's points of interest, but for me the game Dark Souls tries to be is better than the game Skyrim tries to be. That's why I CHOOSE YOU, DARK SOULS!

I'm not saying only "hardcore gamers" can appreciate the game, just the way they do some gameplay elements can only be instantly appreciated by gamers who are well rounded in or at least also appreciated old-school gaming sensibilties

And the way I see it, Skyrim is grossly overrated here whereas in Japan Dark Souls is quite overrated itself.

And IF and only if you are a hardcore gamer will you recognize and instantly admire it's amazing originality, how masterfully crafted the bosses and levels are, and most of all, the challlenge.

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Demon's Souls was original because it was the original you hardcore gamer you.

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Name one game that did the Elder Scrolls formula before Arena. Oh wait, you can't. Arena pretty much defined a genrea. By this logic, every Elder Scrolls game remains original due to its pioneering status.

And IF and only if you are a hardcore gamer will you recognize and instantly admire it's amazing originality, how masterfully crafted the bosses and levels are, and most of all, the challlenge.

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Demon's Souls was original because it was the original you hardcore gamer you.

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Name one game that did the Elder Scrolls formula before Arena. Oh wait, you can't. Arena pretty much defined a genrea. By this logic, every Elder Scrolls game remains original due to its pioneering status.

Yeah, so Dark Souls. Is there anything interesting about it besides challenging combat? I swear every time I see folks talking about DS they always bring up it's difficulty and combat mechanics. Nothing else. Not story, not environments, not level design, not music, nothing but hardness. DeadLazy is the only person, on the Internets and in Real Space, I know of who discussed the use of light and dark in a DS level without talking about how hard it is. Basically DS fans sound like folks who like getting punched in the balls. I mean, whatever floats your boat fine but is there anything to DS besides hard combat?

Yeah, so Dark Souls. Is there anything interesting about it besides challenging combat? I swear every time I see folks talking about DS they always bring up it's difficulty and combat mechanics. Nothing else. Not story, not environments, not level design, not music, nothing but hardness. DeadLazy is the only person, on the Internets and in Real Space, I know of who discussed the use of light and dark in a DS level without talking about how hard it is. Basically DS fans sound like folks who like getting punched in the balls. I mean, whatever floats your boat fine but is there anything to DS besides hard combat?

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Enviroments are pretty, insanely cool online element where you can summon people to help you but also have the risk of certain players coming in to slaughter you while they're being summoned for your humanity and souls. Music is decent. Story isn't a focus really, it's not a story driven game. It's also pretty badass IMO that there's no pause menu, because they want you to be ready for battle at all times, so it saves after every time you get hit, use an item, open a door, read an online tip message other players can post, open a door, re-configure inventory etc. . That means if you absolutely can't keep playing and need to pick up the phone you quit to menu and it has you EXACTLY where you left off.

Who do you guys think the WINNER:________ is between the two critically acclaimed, fantasy open world RPGs is? For me, who played 26 skyrim hours and currently 6 hours of dark souls(just started) here's my opinion:

They're different kinds of open world rpgs. If you're a hardcore gamer and like a challenge that's not unfair but doesn't hold your hand it's 1000000000000 times the game skyrim is.

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Meh. I think Devil May Cry is harder than Zelda OoT. Is it a better game? Not to me.There are two different games as well.

And hardcore gamer depends on what you make it out to be. You can be hardcore and play various of games. You can be hardcore and love a challenge. You can play Skyrim many different ways to make it more hardcore. Especially on PC.

Who do you guys think the WINNER:________ is between the two critically acclaimed, fantasy open world RPGs is? For me, who played 26 skyrim hours and currently 6 hours of dark souls(just started) here's my opinion:

They're different kinds of open world rpgs. If you're a hardcore gamer and like a challenge that's not unfair but doesn't hold your hand it's 1000000000000 times the game skyrim is.

Click to expand...

Meh. I think Devil May Cry is harder than Zelda OoT. Is it a better game? Not to me.There are two different games as well.

And hardcore gamer depends on what you make it out to be. You can be hardcore and play various of games. You can be hardcore and love a challenge. You can play Skyrim many different ways to make it more hardcore. Especially on PC.

Who do you guys think the WINNER:________ is between the two critically acclaimed, fantasy open world RPGs is? For me, who played 26 skyrim hours and currently 6 hours of dark souls(just started) here's my opinion:

They're different kinds of open world rpgs. If you're a hardcore gamer and like a challenge that's not unfair but doesn't hold your hand it's 1000000000000 times the game skyrim is.

Click to expand...

Meh. I think Devil May Cry is harder than Zelda OoT. Is it a better game? Not to me.There are two different games as well.

And hardcore gamer depends on what you make it out to be. You can be hardcore and play various of games. You can be hardcore and love a challenge. You can play Skyrim many different ways to make it more hardcore. Especially on PC.

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Meh Skyrimis never much of a challenge after a few solid hours leveling up. And I didn't say it's better becuase its harder.

So only a true 'hardcore' gamer will instantly recognise and admire DS, thereby negating the opinions of anyone who falls outside this perceived term? Almost choked on my laughter there buddy. I think you'll find that a 'hardcore' gamer would care little for what other people thought they should or shouldn't feel/believe/admire etc. Perhaps someone who 'believes' they are hardcore might feel a little more inclined to specifiy what defines this idea, perhaps even in a slightly patronising and prejudicial way...? Maybe with a 'look at me I'm really hardcore' sort of expression on their face? Genuinely apologies if that's not the impression you were going for.

Dark Souls is not original, though it is very good. Skyrim is not a game that is easy to compare to anything else really [why?], and certainly not DS due to the completely different ways in which the two games deal with gameplay, combat, progression, story, narrative, lore, questing and exploration [how?]. To say that any AAA game 'crushes' another AAA game is slightly silly simply due to the nature of the beasts you're riding [what?]. I much prefer Skyrim for too many reasons to go into right now and find DS a little overrated (guess I'm not hardcore enough to recognise its brilliance), but even then I wouldn't claim that Skyrim crushes DS. Different games, different merits, different polarising opinions apparently too. Vive le difference...

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Seriously man, I had so many "what the actual f***?" moments when reading your post that i had to make an account. I get the feeling that you only wrote this as an exercise in vocabulary, yet your generally poor and nonsensical word choice makes you seem more like a bombastic tryhard.

Anyways, Dark Souls is much better (saying this even after i snapped the disc in rage and bought a new game).

Why Skyrim sucks:
1. Bad and generic melee combat; swing one weapon and you've swung them all.
2. Horrible stealth system; even calling it a stealth system is disrespectful to true stealth games.
3. Spells are all generic and have little difference; fire=dot, ice=slow, fire bolt, ice bolt, derp bolt, herp bolt.
4. Skill system is dull and generic; giving it a cool cosmos background doesnt make it any less bad.
5. Environments are also dull and generic; everything looks the same with very little variety (especially dungeons).
6. AI is laughable and no strategy is required; makes for a very easy game regardless of difficulty.
7. NPCs are boring and lifeless; talk to one and you've talked to them all (disregarding quest-specific text obviously).
8. Quests are all generic "retrieve this" rehashes and a complete joke (fetch quests are so 2004).
9. Difficulty is an illusion; only thing that changes is enemies have more HP, take less damage, and hit harder (what is this D&D circa 1990?).
10. Voice actors are terrible, at least Oblivion had Patrick Stewart.
11. The graphics are decent, for a console game, but they make poor use of them; contributes to the dull environments.
12. No sense of power/scale; you dont feel more powerful as you level up.
13. Boring enemies/monsters; nothing really gives you that "man... i am so fucked" feeling when you first see it.
14. No real sense of accomplishment, no feeling of hopelessness/despair, no blind fury/rage, no adrenaline rush.
15. No sense of impending doom; the feeling beyond despair that crushes your soul.
16. No pure raw "what the f*** is this, and what the f*** am i supposed to do" scary moments that leave your heart racing and trigger #15.
17. Massive epic super big super wow world, but everything is the same, and everything is generic and boring; massive sand box, lots of sand, no water/tools to make sand castles (save piss).
Summary: Skyrim, somewhere along the lines of its development, decided that the old adage "quality over quantity" was just not appropriate or hip enough for their epically cool RPG.

Why Dark Souls is a truly great game:
1. The combat is smooth and responsive, tremulating but invigorating, and just down-right magnificent. No other game has made me feel so involved in the combat (i am never one to "move" with my character, but this game is an exception). You feel every blow against your shield, every slash across your enemies chest, every narrow dodge as a hammer twice your side crushes down from above you and the earth around you quakes. You can parry your opponents blow and run him through, kick your enemies shield and force him to unblock, dodge roll your opponents heavy blow and stab him in the back as he recovers from the swing... all of which requires good skill and timing, and is therefore very rewarding.

2. The spells are all useful, balanced, well thought-out, and fun to cast; your lesser spells dont become obsolete, and you always find a creative way to use your arsenal in new and different situations. You are also generally limited by your attunement slots, which only allow you to carry a specific number of spells (each with their own number of casts) with you at any time, making strategy important.

3. The level system is more traditional, but suits the game perfectly; no new-age perks here. The level system allows you to be a jack-of-all-trades, a pure master of one or two skills, or a more hybrid version of the two (eg powerful sorcerer who sacrifices some intelligence or vitality for enough endurance to effectively parry heavy blows with a shield or wear heavier armor and benefit from high poise). This system allows you to perfectly tailor your character to your preferred play style.

4. Environments in this game are beautiful and unique(and that's saying something for 2005 hardware). Every location in this game looks and feels different, and is painstakingly detailed with countless nooks and crannies holding yummy treasure. The texture resolution may be a bit low on some things, but you wont really notice it because the aesthetic quality is marvelous. This is really something coming from me, because i generally hate the "aesthetics is more important than graphics" spiel people always give about every game with sub-optimal graphics. I am a PC gamer, and i use and have always used what would be considered high end to enthusiast level hardware, so to actually find a game with less than excellent graphics beautiful is really something for me.

5. The AI, while not always perfect, is generally very good in this game. The monsters all have a rather unique set of moves they do, and they do them based on what you are doing (ie drinking a potion, holding block, attacking, recovering from an attack, staggered, behind/side/infront/underneath them etc.), which makes combat very fun and very dynamic. Bosses follow a more rigid set of moves, although they do mix it up and adapt/respond to your actions, and their pattern (if they have one) is rarely ever immediately obvious nor do you adapt to it on the first (or more) fight; this makes for an interesting and rewarding challenge. Dont expect to stop and cast a long spell or drink a potion in front of your enemy and actually gain health out of it or not be disrupted.

6. NPCs in this game are different than you would find in other RPGs. There is much less conversation, and much more interpretation. NPCs often dont elaborate on what they are talking about, and they dont give you many clues about their intentions. That being said, this makes for a very unique system, and actually suits dark souls quite well. You forge alliances with these NPCs by your actions and not so much by your words. There are several plots for each NPC and your actions will directly determine the end result. These NPCs will also help you in battle, but only if you act favorably to them.

7. The save system. No take backs, no "oh damn, i better reload," no "shit i didnt mean to do that!" Every action has a consequence, and with this save system, you cant pussy out. You pay for your mistakes and you learn from them (be it in the current game, or the next play through).

8. The difficulty. Some find it too hard, others find it too easy. Difficulty is a very personal thing, but what dark souls does and what it doesnt do makes the difficulty unique. Dark Souls doesnt rely on the cheap D&D style of difficulty (dmg reduction vs enemies, higher enemy hp, etc.), but rather makes the game difficult by making AI balanced, intelligent, realistic, rational, and responsive (though at times a little too smart). NG+ and further play-throughs do increase enemy damage, HP, etc, but only because by that time your level is so high and your gear is good. The way it is executed, you may actually find the game to be harder on NG+, and the difficulty is set up so when you die, its your fault, and when you win, its because you learned from your mistakes and played skillfully.

9. The voice acting and sound in this game is superb; you really feel like you are listening to movie-quality voices and sound. The sound in this game perfectly suits the battles and environment, the voice actors really add so much to the immersion.

10. Immersion. The combination of the setting, the sound, the environments and the combat completely draws you into the game. No other game has had me play for hours and hours on end without even realizing it. You eventually become entranced by your character's armored footsteps, and the calm, mellow music as you explore the land (only to have your heart rate double when you accidentally walk into a boss and the boss music kicks in).

11. Size. From monsters to monasteries, this game is BIG. Whether you are scaling a building, overlooking a city, or fighting a demon that is so massive you can only see up to its stomach with the camera, you really get the sense of how small and vulnerable your character really is.

12. Old school. This game takes you back to a time where your hand is not held and you are not guided every step of the way. You drop into the game knowing nothing, and you figure it all out for yourself, with some helpful hints and tips along the way from a crestfallen warrior. You do what you want, when you want, and you do it your way.

13. Enemy variety. There are so many unique bosses in this game, its insane. Every boss has its own unique moves, look, play, and pattern, and nearly every boss and sub-boss encounter will make you work for your kill. Even common enemies you've fought many times can sometimes jolt you out of your lull with an unexpected parry and thrust.

14. Emotion. That feel of despair you get when you are powerless to save your character and the event that all of your precious souls may be lost. That sense of impending doom when a colossal "what the f*** is that" is moving closer and closer and the boss music is blazing in your ears, and you look down to see that you have 1 or no estus flasks left. That rush of adrenaline as that black knight runs towards you and you decide not to try to run away. That alternate rush of adrenaline as you are running away and you realize the black knight doesnt run out of stamina, and you hear that SMASH, SMASH, SMASH, inches behind your character. That giddy sense of deep satisfaction when you finally beat that one boss that has been mopping the floor with you (often accompanied by a "get down, bitch"). That feeling of utter, blind, white rage, when something completely unexpected happens like a lowly scrub zombie jumping down on you and hitting you off a ledge to your death. Most of all, that feeling when you are out of estus, and both you and the boss are one hit away from death... that feel as you make a mad dash for the last hit, ignoring everything else. Also that "brave kitten" feel when you think you are a tough cookie and attack a NPC (lotrek/seigmeyer in particular) only to get your shit pushed in, is quite memorable.

15. Life Lesson. If you dont have patience/self-control when you start, rest assured by the time you finish the game, you will have it (or broken stuff and a significantly lighter wallet). When playing, if you are new to the game (like i was) and prone to rage (like me), tape your console closed, and remove all throwable/breakable objects from your immediate vicinity (strap your controller to your wrist). Also try to sit at least 2-3 seconds away from anything you dont want hurt/broken (about the time it takes to calm down). So far, i am out 1 dark souls game, 1 new xbox controller (turnable d-pad), a few nice plastic cups, and a cat that wont sit on my lap anymore (not counting self inflicted blows of manly rage).

16. Scale. The progression of power in this game is great. You start off as a relatively weak but courageous near-zombie hollow, and progress gradually to lordship (think like a human on par with a demigod). As such, you never really ascend to godhood like in other RPG games, and you will never really be in a situation where you are more powerful than (or generally even on par with) the boss you are fighting, but you also dont end up a weak pussy like Krillin either. This makes the game a constant challenge and much more rewarding.

17. Large world, with lots of stuff, and a lot to do. While this "lot" doesnt include chopping wood, or picking herbs, it does include discovery and combat. There are many monsters to fight, many items to collect, and many unique locations to visit. The crafting system is obviously not as vast as Skyrim's, but you also have to work a lot harder to craft the weapons you want. Applying lightning/fire/magic effects requires rare materials, and more often than not, these rare materials are in the possession of even more rare (and tough) monsters. This means you will end up only maxxing out one weapon and some armor for each playthrough. You have to be smart and plan ahead if you want to be successful.

Summary: Dark souls is a much richer and deeper experience than Skyrim, and many other games in general. While it's story is much more interpretative and light on the text, it is rather suiting for this game, and the countless items, epic bosses, and gorgeous environments are more than enough to make up for any qualms over some weaker aspects of the game.

I also forgot to mention that each weapon in Dark Souls is mostly unique. There are a great number of weapons, and all of them have their own specific uses, abilities, and moves. Generally weapons of the same class have one similar and one unique hit. The similar move would be a forward thrust for a thrust weapon, a slash for a standard sword, and smash for a club, etc. The unique would be something special for that weapon, like a special move of great power (super smash, double thrust, staggering hit, explosive charge), and varies between weapons of the same type. This variety allows you to be more than just a melee warrior, for instance you can play like a rogue (fast moving backstabber), a swashbuckler (fencing/parrying swordplay), a barbarian (glass cannon), a knight (high armor with sword and shield), a hulk (a smash-happy havel), or a combination of them all, and there is a vast array of weapons that will suit your role-specific needs.

Armor is along the same lines, offering high protection at the cost of movement speed, high poise, high specific resistances, etc. all balanced so no one piece is better than another (mostly, disregarding low-level gear).

So only a true 'hardcore' gamer will instantly recognise and admire DS, thereby negating the opinions of anyone who falls outside this perceived term? Almost choked on my laughter there buddy. I think you'll find that a 'hardcore' gamer would care little for what other people thought they should or shouldn't feel/believe/admire etc. Perhaps someone who 'believes' they are hardcore might feel a little more inclined to specifiy what defines this idea, perhaps even in a slightly patronising and prejudicial way...? Maybe with a 'look at me I'm really hardcore' sort of expression on their face? Genuinely apologies if that's not the impression you were going for.

Dark Souls is not original, though it is very good. Skyrim is not a game that is easy to compare to anything else really [why?], and certainly not DS due to the completely differentways in which the two games deal with gameplay, combat, progression, story, narrative, lore, questing and exploration [how?]. To say that any AAA game 'crushes' another AAA game is slightly silly simply due to the nature of the beasts you're riding [what?]. I much prefer Skyrim for too many reasons to go into right now and find DS a little overrated (guess I'm not hardcore enough to recognise its brilliance), but even then I wouldn't claim that Skyrim crushes DS. Different games, different merits, different polarising opinions apparently too. Vive le difference...

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Seriously man, I had so many "what the actual f***?" moments when reading your post that i had to make an account. I get the feeling that you only wrote this as an exercise in vocabulary, yet your generally poor and nonsensical word choice makes you seem more like a bombastic tryhard.

Anyways, Dark Souls is much better (saying this even after i snapped the disc in rage and bought a new game).

Why Skyrim sucks:
1. Bad and generic melee combat; swing one weapon and you've swung them all.
2. Horrible stealth system; even calling it a stealth system is disrespectful to true stealth games.
3. Spells are all generic and have little difference; fire=dot, ice=slow, fire bolt, ice bolt, derp bolt, herp bolt.
4. Skill system is dull and generic; giving it a cool cosmos background doesnt make it any less bad.
5. Environments are also dull and generic; everything looks the same with very little variety (especially dungeons).
6. AI is laughable and no strategy is required; makes for a very easy game regardless of difficulty.
7. NPCs are boring and lifeless; talk to one and you've talked to them all (disregarding quest-specific text obviously).
8. Quests are all generic "retrieve this" rehashes and a complete joke (fetch quests are so 2004).
9. Difficulty is an illusion; only thing that changes is enemies have more HP, take less damage, and hit harder (what is this D&D circa 1990?).
10. Voice actors are terrible, at least Oblivion had Patrick Stewart.
11. The graphics are decent, for a console game, but they make poor use of them; contributes to the dull environments.
12. No sense of power/scale; you dont feel more powerful as you level up.
13. Boring enemies/monsters; nothing really gives you that "man... i am so ******" feeling when you first see it.
14. No real sense of accomplishment, no feeling of hopelessness/despair, no blind fury/rage, no adrenaline rush.
15. No sense of impending doom; the feeling beyond despair that crushes your soul.
16. No pure raw "what the f*** is this, and what the f*** am i supposed to do" scary moments that leave your heart racing and trigger #15.
17. Massive epic super big super wow world, but everything is the same, and everything is generic and boring; massive sand box, lots of sand, no water/tools to make sand castles (save piss).
Summary: Skyrim, somewhere along the lines of its development, decided that the old adage "quality over quantity" was just not appropriate or hip enough for their epically cool RPG.

Why Dark Souls is a truly great game:
1. The combat is smooth and responsive, tremulating but invigorating, and just down-right magnificent. No other game has made me feel so involved in the combat (i am never one to "move" with my character, but this game is an exception). You feel every blow against your shield, every slash across your enemies chest, every narrow dodge as a hammer twice your side crushes down from above you and the earth around you quakes. You can parry your opponents blow and run him through, kick your enemies shield and force him to unblock, dodge roll your opponents heavy blow and stab him in the back as he recovers from the swing... all of which requires good skill and timing, and is therefore very rewarding.

2. The spells are all useful, balanced, well thought-out, and fun to cast; your lesser spells dont become obsolete, and you always find a creative way to use your arsenal in new and different situations. You are also generally limited by your attunement slots, which only allow you to carry a specific number of spells (each with their own number of casts) with you at any time, making strategy important.

3. The level system is more traditional, but suits the game perfectly; no new-age perks here. The level system allows you to be a jack-of-all-trades, a pure master of one or two skills, or a more hybrid version of the two (eg powerful sorcerer who sacrifices some intelligence or vitality for enough endurance to effectively parry heavy blows with a shield or wear heavier armor and benefit from high poise). This system allows you to perfectly tailor your character to your preferred play style.

4. Environments in this game are beautiful and unique(and that's saying something for 2005 hardware). Every location in this game looks and feels different, and is painstakingly detailed with countless nooks and crannies holding yummy treasure. The texture resolution may be a bit low on some things, but you wont really notice it because the aesthetic quality is marvelous. This is really something coming from me, because i generally hate the "aesthetics is more important than graphics" spiel people always give about every game with sub-optimal graphics. I am a PC gamer, and i use and have always used what would be considered high end to enthusiast level hardware, so to actually find a game with less than excellent graphics beautiful is really something for me.

5. The AI, while not always perfect, is generally very good in this game. The monsters all have a rather unique set of moves they do, and they do them based on what you are doing (ie drinking a potion, holding block, attacking, recovering from an attack, staggered, behind/side/infront/underneath them etc.), which makes combat very fun and very dynamic. Bosses follow a more rigid set of moves, although they do mix it up and adapt/respond to your actions, and their pattern (if they have one) is rarely ever immediately obvious nor do you adapt to it on the first (or more) fight; this makes for an interesting and rewarding challenge. Dont expect to stop and cast a long spell or drink a potion in front of your enemy and actually gain health out of it or not be disrupted.

6. NPCs in this game are different than you would find in other RPGs. There is much less conversation, and much more interpretation. NPCs often dont elaborate on what they are talking about, and they dont give you many clues about their intentions. That being said, this makes for a very unique system, and actually suits dark souls quite well. You forge alliances with these NPCs by your actions and not so much by your words. There are several plots for each NPC and your actions will directly determine the end result. These NPCs will also help you in battle, but only if you act favorably to them.

7. The save system. No take backs, no "oh damn, i better reload," no "**** i didnt mean to do that!" Every action has a consequence, and with this save system, you cant pussy out. You pay for your mistakes and you learn from them (be it in the current game, or the next play through).

8. The difficulty. Some find it too hard, others find it too easy. Difficulty is a very personal thing, but what dark souls does and what it doesnt do makes the difficulty unique. Dark Souls doesnt rely on the cheap D&D style of difficulty (dmg reduction vs enemies, higher enemy hp, etc.), but rather makes the game difficult by making AI balanced, intelligent, realistic, rational, and responsive (though at times a little too smart). NG+ and further play-throughs do increase enemy damage, HP, etc, but only because by that time your level is so high and your gear is good. The way it is executed, you may actually find the game to be harder on NG+, and the difficulty is set up so when you die, its your fault, and when you win, its because you learned from your mistakes and played skillfully.

9. The voice acting and sound in this game is superb; you really feel like you are listening to movie-quality voices and sound. The sound in this game perfectly suits the battles and environment, the voice actors really add so much to the immersion.

10. Immersion. The combination of the setting, the sound, the environments and the combat completely draws you into the game. No other game has had me play for hours and hours on end without even realizing it. You eventually become entranced by your character's armored footsteps, and the calm, mellow music as you explore the land (only to have your heart rate double when you accidentally walk into a boss and the boss music kicks in).

11. Size. From monsters to monasteries, this game is BIG. Whether you are scaling a building, overlooking a city, or fighting a demon that is so massive you can only see up to its stomach with the camera, you really get the sense of how small and vulnerable your character really is.

12. Old school. This game takes you back to a time where your hand is not held and you are not guided every step of the way. You drop into the game knowing nothing, and you figure it all out for yourself, with some helpful hints and tips along the way from a crestfallen warrior. You do what you want, when you want, and you do it your way.

13. Enemy variety. There are so many unique bosses in this game, its insane. Every boss has its own unique moves, look, play, and pattern, and nearly every boss and sub-boss encounter will make you work for your kill. Even common enemies you've fought many times can sometimes jolt you out of your lull with an unexpected parry and thrust.

14. Emotion. That feel of despair you get when you are powerless to save your character and the event that all of your precious souls may be lost. That sense of impending doom when a colossal "what the f*** is that" is moving closer and closer and the boss music is blazing in your ears, and you look down to see that you have 1 or no estus flasks left. That rush of adrenaline as that black knight runs towards you and you decide not to try to run away. That alternate rush of adrenaline as you are running away and you realize the black knight doesnt run out of stamina, and you hear that SMASH, SMASH, SMASH, inches behind your character. That giddy sense of deep satisfaction when you finally beat that one boss that has been mopping the floor with you (often accompanied by a "get down, bitch"). That feeling of utter, blind, white rage, when something completely unexpected happens like a lowly scrub zombie jumping down on you and hitting you off a ledge to your death. Most of all, that feeling when you are out of estus, and both you and the boss are one hit away from death... that feel as you make a mad dash for the last hit, ignoring everything else. Also that "brave kitten" feel when you think you are a tough cookie and attack a NPC (lotrek/seigmeyer in particular) only to get your **** pushed in, is quite memorable.

15. Life Lesson. If you dont have patience/self-control when you start, rest assured by the time you finish the game, you will have it (or broken stuff and a significantly lighter wallet). When playing, if you are new to the game (like i was) and prone to rage (like me), tape your console closed, and remove all throwable/breakable objects from your immediate vicinity (strap your controller to your wrist). Also try to sit at least 2-3 seconds away from anything you dont want hurt/broken (about the time it takes to calm down). So far, i am out 1 dark souls game, 1 new xbox controller (turnable d-pad), a few nice plastic cups, and a cat that wont sit on my lap anymore (not counting self inflicted blows of manly rage).

16. Scale. The progression of power in this game is great. You start off as a relatively weak but courageous near-zombie hollow, and progress gradually to lordship (think like a human on par with a demigod). As such, you never really ascend to godhood like in other RPG games, and you will never really be in a situation where you are more powerful than (or generally even on par with) the boss you are fighting, but you also dont end up a weak pussy like Krillin either. This makes the game a constant challenge and much more rewarding.

17. Large world, with lots of stuff, and a lot to do. While this "lot" doesnt include chopping wood, or picking herbs, it does include discovery and combat. There are many monsters to fight, many items to collect, and many unique locations to visit. The crafting system is obviously not as vast as Skyrim's, but you also have to work a lot harder to craft the weapons you want. Applying lightning/fire/magic effects requires rare materials, and more often than not, these rare materials are in the possession of even more rare (and tough) monsters. This means you will end up only maxxing out one weapon and some armor for each playthrough. You have to be smart and plan ahead if you want to be successful.

Summary: Dark souls is a much richer and deeper experience than Skyrim, and many other games in general. While it's story is much more interpretative and light on the text, it is rather suiting for this game, and the countless items, epic bosses, and gorgeous environments are more than enough to make up for any qualms over some weaker aspects of the game.

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Sorry, this 'bombastic tryhard' fell asleep after the first couple of chapters. Glad you have an opinion though. Keep it up. Certainly helped with my insomnia.

Sorry, this 'bombastic tryhard' fell asleep after the first couple of chapters. Glad you have an opinion though. Keep it up. Certainly helped with my insomnia.

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Thanks, I will. Good job pointing out that I, like all who have come before me, and all who will come after me, have an opinion. Also, i am glad to see that you have at least a basic grasp at sarcasm. Keep it up. Maybe one day you will be able to use it impress someone along with your slack-jawed prolixity.

Perhaps someone who 'believes' they are hurr might feel a little more durr to specificifiy what defines this idea, perhaps even in a slightly herp, but more so, derp, way...?

Thanks, I will. Good job pointing out that I, like all who have come before me, and all who will come after me, have an opinion. Also, i am glad to see that you have at least a basic grasp at sarcasm. Keep it up. Maybe one day you will be able to use it impress someone along with your slack-jawed prolixity.

Perhaps someone who 'believes' they are hurr might feel a little more durr to specificifiy what defines this idea, perhaps even in a slightly herp, but more so, derp, way...?

Good night. Oh, wait.

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Welcome to the club. Nice reply. You put a genuine smile on my face on a crappy rainy day.
I feel like we're best buds already.

I don't see the point in comparing the two games. Sure, they're somewhat similar on an aesthetic level, but the core gameplay is worlds apart. I prefer the gameplay style of Dark Souls without a doubt, but it is not be for everyone. I know CathedralMaster just straight up does not like the Dark Souls game style. Skyrim is an open world fantasy RPG for the people, Dark Souls is a focused Metroidvania action game with heavy RPG elements for gamers seeking a challenge.

Surprisingly enough, 2 million people were seeking that challenge, but Skyrim was the second-best selling game of last year, in the shadow of only one other juggernaut, Call of Duty.

I thought a Metroidvania game was, first and foremost, a side-scroller. Several definitions I've searched for also explain this (yes I looked it up), but I'm not going to get hung up on classifications.

I thought a Metroidvania game was, first and foremost, a side-scroller. Several definitions I've searched for also explain this (yes I looked it up), but I'm not going to get hung up on classifications.

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So Metroid Primes is not a metroidvania. If anything I see Dark Souls as a rebirth of the original castlevania games, pre-SotN.

I thought a Metroidvania game was, first and foremost, a side-scroller. Several definitions I've searched for also explain this (yes I looked it up), but I'm not going to get hung up on classifications.

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So Metroid Primes is not a metroidvania. If anything I see Dark Souls as a rebirth of the original castlevania games, pre-SotN.

Seriously man, I had so many "what the actual f***?" moments when reading your post that i had to make an account

...

saying this even after i snapped the disc in rage and bought a new game

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Got a problem with how i spend my money? Snapping the disc on say, Skyrim, would warrant a WTF, but Dark souls? No. It is clear that you've never actually played the game. Even if most people dont get that mad, they can at least sympathize. I can assure you, i am not the only one who has broken shit because of this game.

Seriously man, I had so many "what the actual f***?" moments when reading your post that i had to make an account

...

saying this even after i snapped the disc in rage and bought a new game

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Click to expand...

Got a problem with how i spend my money? Snapping the disc on say, Skyrim, would warrant a WTF, but Dark souls? No. It is clear that you've never actually played the game. Even if most people dont get that mad, they can at least sympathize. I can assure you, i am not the only one who has broken **** because of this game.